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Do you have a chimney that hasn’t been seen by a professional in the last 12 months? Have you been burning a fire in a fireplace that is visibly damaged, leaking, stained, or missing a cap or other component? Have you purchased a new home that has a fireplace, and you’re not sure if it was properly inspected by a CSIA certified chimney sweep? It’s not too late. Even if you are using your fireplace daily, it isn’t too late to call a professional and have it inspected and fixed before winter is over. Having your chimney repaired can raise the chimney’s efficiency and make it safer. When your chimney is safe and efficient it will save you money in the long-run. Start Thinking Chimney Repairs Soon – Chico CA – White Glove

Avoid Winter Damage

If you schedule chimney repairs soon, you can avoid some serious winter damage. Ordinary wear and tear on masonry can become serious damage during winter due to the freeze/thaw cycle. This is what happens when water settles into cracks and voids in the masonry. As temperatures drop, the water freezes, expanding and busting apart the masonry. When temperatures rise, the water melts, moving further into the damaged masonry, and repeating the process. As the freeze/thaw cycle repeats throughout winter, it can cause dangerous and costly damage over time. If you have visible damage or haven’t had the chimney serviced in the last 12 months, you may already have winter damage. Have it checked out now, and rest assured you’ll be ready for the rest of winter.

Maximize Fuel and Heat

If your chimney is damaged and remains unrepaired, it will continue to work less efficiently, even dangerously, for the rest of the winter. A damaged chimney will not work correctly. The air will not flow out the flue properly, causing more deposits of soot and creosote on the flue walls. It raises the fire risk, makes it more difficult to light and keep a fire burning at a decent temperature, you’ll even burn more wood to reach the desired temperature. Don’t waste your firewood, your time, or risk your home, your money, or your life. Schedule chimney repairs now, and get the most out of your fireplace.

Avoid Water Leaks

Damage that goes unrepaired now will lead to leaks in the spring. Spring showers will have access to your chimney, and water wreaks havoc on masonry. It not only damages parts of your chimney system but can also damage other parts of your home. Water will get into your home by way of the chimney and then flow through ceilings, walls, and floors until it forms a leak. Your ceiling may leak several feet away from the chimney, but it will still be caused by the chimney leak that could have been prevented. Water damage is 100 percent preventable, and homeowners rarely see it before it causes damage, so it’s best to prevent it.

When you begin thinking about tax season, spring cleaning, and warm weather, don’t forget your chimney system. It’s a great time to schedule necessary services, including an annual inspection, and a professional chimney sweep.

Call White Glove Chimney and Air Duct for your chimney repairs. We care about your home and family and want to help you get the most out of your chimney system this winter. Winter isn’t over yet, and there is plenty of time to have your chimney repaired, and still enjoy a warm fireplace these remaining weeks of winter.

More than 20,000 people visit emergency rooms in the U.S. annually due to carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide is dangerous for people of all ages (especially infants and elderly), and it is completely undetectable, with no odor, color, or taste. The only way to prevent exposure is to install a detector and make sure it has batteries. A carbon monoxide detector doesn’t prevent exposure, any more than a smoke alarm prevents a fire. A working alarm/detector allows time for a safe escape, and when carbon monoxide is leaking, time is important. Make an escape plan for your family (including two ways out) and practice it regularly. Homeowners can take steps to prevent carbon monoxide exposure, as well.

Steps to Prevent

1. Schedule routine maintenance for fire-burning appliances. Make sure your gas range is installed and working properly. Schedule annual inspections and routine sweeps of your chimney system in order to make sure there are no damage or missing parts. If your chimney hasn’t been inspected in the last 12 months, do not use it.

2. Do not attempt chimney repairs or installations yourself. You should hire a certified chimney sweep to install new appliances and components to your chimney system. White Glove Chimney and Air Duct installs, repairs, and services hearth products with professional and expert services. Customer safety is our #1 priority, and that doesn’t mean fire safety only. Regular chimney maintenance helps keep families safe from carbon monoxide poisoning as well. A missing or damaged liner can allow carbon monoxide to seep into your house. A rusted damper can prevent the fire from venting through the chimney, pushing smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. The same can occur if the efficiency of the chimney system drops.

3. Do not use portable heaters or other fueled appliances indoors (unless they are electric). Any appliance that burns fuel or chemicals should be used only according to manufacturer’s instructions. In case of power outage, do not use a generator indoors. The best way to heat your home during a power outage is by using your chimney system that is in good working condition and inspected by a professional.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A carbon monoxide leak can lead to a slow exposure that damages organs over time, or a fast exposure that can land a resident in the hospital with sudden and severe brain damage. In order to avoid irreparably damage or death, get to know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. They can be hard to distinguish because they are similar to common cold or flu.
–Headache
–Nausea and vomiting
–Vertigo
–Altered states of consciousness
–Weakness

Severe symptoms can present with a range from mental illness to heart attack. Carbon monoxide poisoning leads to organ failure, and you may not come back to full health. The best way to protect yourself is to prevent it altogether.

Still not sure your chimney, fireplace, and home are safe? Call White Glove Chimney and Air Duct today!

Fall may be over, but chimney sweeps are still busy cleaning, inspecting, and repairing chimney systems across the country. At White Glove Chimney and Air Duct, we service fireplaces year-round, and it’s not just wood fireplaces that need attention. Gas fireplaces have to be inspected annually as well.

Why Inspect Your Gas Fireplace?

Gas appliances are highly efficient and come with features that make the fireplace experience a dream! They are so easy to use and maintain that you may make the mistake of assuming they don’t need an annual inspection. Believe it or not, your gas fireplace needs an annual inspection because it is so efficient! It doesn’t produce ash, soot, or creosote like a wood fire, but gas appliances do produce water vapor. In fact, your gas appliance may produce up to 1.5 gallons of water through the chimney every single hour that it burns. This moisture doesn’t always make it out the chimney system and can coat the inside of the flue, damaging the liner, the masonry, and it can even cause moisture damage to your home.

What Kind of Inspection?

The annual chimney inspection is generally a level 1 inspection, but over the life of your home, you may need to schedule a level 2 or 3 inspection.

Level 1 Inspection – Required annually when nothing has changed with the chimney system. The system will be used in the same way as the previous year. Also there are no known problems with its function. This inspection includes all readily accessible portions of the system and attached appliances. During a level 1 inspection, your gas appliance will be taken apart, checked over, and replaced.

Level 2 Inspection – Required before the sale or transfer of property, after a change is made to the system (new appliance, conversion, repair, etc.), or if the home has endured a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or flue fire. A level 2 inspection includes everything assessed in a level 1, plus accessible portions of the chimney structure. Enclosed flues are assessed using video scanning.

Level 3 Inspection – Required when the chimney is considered hazardous to use. It includes all that in a level 1 and 2 inspection as well as designated portions of the chimney structure and building. Parts of the chimney or building may be removed to allow access to a hazard.

But, Which One Do I Need?

Depending on the circumstance, you may only need a level 1 inspection. If you haven’t had your system inspected in the last 12 months, you need to schedule a level 1 inspection now! You also need an inspection if youhaven’t had it inspected since installing the new gas appliance. In this case you will need a level 2. If you’re unsure when your system was last inspected, call White Glove and ask an expert. It’s important to have your gas appliance checked every 12 months so that you can rest assured that your appliance and piping is working properly for another 12 months.

Many homes still utilize an open hearth for both ambiance and supplemental heat. An open fireplace burns wood, and is often constructed with the house. If you purchase an older home, it may have the original fireplace and chimney. If this is the case, your chimney and firebox is designed together—the chimney sized appropriately for the hearth’s capacity. Despite good construction, proper fuel, and routine care, your open hearth can cause you problems. Open fireplaces lose heat. They can be drafty and difficult to maintain a temperature. In fact, your open fireplace may be costing you money year-round! Raise efficiency and get more out of your hearth by adding an insert.

Inserts Save Money

Since an insert is a closed unit, it works like a stove, using more of the heat for the home. It burns cleaner and works more efficiently. With an insert, you don’t have to worry about losing your heat up the flue. When the insert is not in use, the closed doors will prevent conditioned or heated air from escaping.

Inserts are Better for the Environment

You will burn less wood, spend less money on heat, and require less routine maintenance. This is because your system will work better. Your insert will be more efficient than your open fireplace – even by 80 percent! When the system is more efficient, there is less impact on the environment, both in consumption and pollution.

Inserts are Beautiful

You can upgrade an old, tired, open-hearth by adding an insert. The insert will be installed directly into your existing firebox. It gives it a facelift without altering the original masonry. Inserts come in many styles from contemporary to traditional, feature large windows, and can be paired with new stonework to transform your hearth.

Inserts are Easy to Install

It is easy and cost-effective to convert from an open hearth to an insert. It will require a professional chimney sweep to measure the area so that an appropriately-sized insert can be retro-fitted into your existing firebox. Getting the measurement wrong can waste time and money. A certified chimney sweep will also assess the existing chimney for soundness and function. Since the insert is slightly smaller than the firebox, the capacity is slightly less, which is a whole different equation. A professional will need to replace the liner to be an appropriate size. Otherwise your fire may not burn hot enough to push the air through a too-large flue. The best option is to have a stainless-steel liner installed. They are the longest-lasting liners, and are especially appropriate when converting from a wood fireplace to a gas insert because they’re safe for all fuel types.

Your chimney system is made up of many parts, and all of them are important for proper and safe function. Your damper, which is traditionally located in the throat of the chimney can be impossible to see, and may cause problems that the homeowner doesn’t even notice. You can ensure that your chimney damper is properly installed by:

Hiring a certified professional for all services, repairs, and installations

Paying attention to your chimney’s performance and calling a certified professional for an assessment.

Why the Damper Matters

Your damper may seem like the least important part of your chimney (out of sight, out of mind), but when it stops working, or never works properly, it can cause a host of issues for your chimney and home. Your damper allows air to flow freely through the chimney. It’s helpful when lighting a fire, controlling the fire, letting smoke and carbon monoxide safely out of the house, and preventing drafts from entering or exiting your chimney year-round.

The type of damper also matters. Many older masonry chimneys already have a throat damper installed. Some appliances, like wood stoves, have a damper in the unit. There are some dampers that are installed onto the top of the chimney, called a top mount damper.

Professional Installation and Services

Anytime you need any service for your chimney system, you need to hire a certified chimney sweep. A Certified Chimney Sweep (CCS) is trained and experienced in chimney safety, but also in residential safety codes that can cost you an arm and a leg if you’re in violation.

White Glove Chimney and Air Duct is licensed, certified, and insured. Our field technicians are experienced chimney experts that live in and work in this area. It’s our goal is to keep our customers and neighbors in Northern California safe and warm, which is why we offer expert services for damper sales, installations, and repairs.

Throat Damper Services

If your fireplace is smoky or cold backdrafts blow in from your fireplace, call White Glove, and we’ll check it out. Your damper may be rusted or broken. We can replace it completely, or install a top mount damper that can save you money year-after-year.

Top Mount Damper Services

More homeowners are choosing top mount dampers because they are a convenient 2-for-1. It serves as a damper and doubles as a chimney cap, keeping animals, weather, and wind out of your flue. The top mount damper is installed at the top of the chimney. It has a tight seal, so it keeps your system secure from the top-down. It has a cord that reaches right to your hearth, so all you have to do is pull, and it opens and closes. These dampers are often called energy saving dampers because they prevent conditioned air loss with their tight seal. They also provide a water-tight seal during the wet springs, saving even more money in repairs. With this and throat dampers, it’s important to hire a professional, and to hire the right professional.

White Glove has our customers’ safety in mind. We offer affordable services including routine sweeps and annual inspections, installations, repairs, and even masonry construction/repair/rebuilding. Hire White Glove Chimney and Air Duct year-round for expert services and a professional experience every time.

Your chimney may be the most hard-working system in your house. Whenever a fire is burning, it is working. It keeps the family safe and house warm all by using many different parts. Like anything that you depend on for safety and service, the chimney is susceptible to wear and tear. It needs routine maintenance in order to continue to work properly. Despite the durability, your chimney will not last if not properly maintained.

Routine Maintenance

Both the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend routine maintenance for the safest and most efficient chimney system. Routine chimney sweeps keep the system clean so that it can vent the fire efficiently. Annual chimney inspections allow a professional to assess the system, identifying hazards before they can cause a fire, carbon monoxide exposure, or result in a waste of money and resources.

CSIA Inspections Explained

Chimney inspections are categorized so homeowners schedule needed inspections without wasting money or time on an unnecessary extensive inspection.

Level 1 inspections are required annually when nothing has changed with the system, and no changes are planned. It is an assessment of all the readily accessible portions of the chimney and doesn’t require any special tools.

Level 2 inspections are required after a change to the system (installation, repair, etc.) or a natural occurrence affected the house (tornado, fire, etc.). Sale or transfer of a property requires a Level 2 inspection as well. If you are looking into purchasing a home with a fireplace, ask for the level 2 inspection. It includes everything in a level 1 inspection, in addition to hidden portions in attics and crawlspaces.

Level 3 inspections are the most thorough level and required when a serious hazard is identified. It includes everything in the level 1 and 2 inspections and may require special tools to remove components of the structure or chimney to access the hazard.

Contact Us Today!

Your home owner’s insurance most likely covers routine chimney inspections. A certified chimney sweep should also complete them. Your insurance company will require professional services the same way your automobile warranty requires certain routine maintenance. Inspections keep things working properly. During an inspection, chimney experts identify quick and affordable minor repairs. Homeowners avoid serious and costly repairs when catching and repairing minor damage early on. Inspections are one way to not only diagnose chimney issues, but also prevent them. Find out more about chimney care by speaking to a chimney expert at White Glove. We offer chimney services year-round, and recommend inspections before burn season. Call today at 530-221-3331!

If you want to make a major change to your chimney and fireplace system, now is the time. When winter begins, you may become busy and not want to make changes to the hearth. Get started now. Check out the top reasons to choose gas as your next fireplace fuel.

Eco-Friendly

Using natural gas is better for the environment than using an electric heater or wood fireplace. Gas burns cleaner than wood, and is more efficient, so less particles, smoke, and gases are released into the environment.

Money-Saving

Making the switch from wood to gas can save you money because gas fireplaces do not lose the kind of heat that wood fireplaces do. Also, gas fireplaces are great for zone heating which saves families hundreds in energy costs each year. Use gas to heat areas, or zones, of the home that are most used, and turn down the central heat in the rest of the house. Watch your energy bills go down as well!

Easy Installation

Gas fireplaces are easy to install. They can generally be installed anywhere depending on the model you choose. Some gas fireplaces are closed units that draw air and vent through a wall, and others are inserted into an existing fireplace and use the chimney. The options are endless, and once they’re in, they are easy to use.

Convenient

In addition to easy installation, gas fireplaces are easy to use. Most are lit by a switch or button and are extinguished just as easily. This makes it easy to control the heat during a get-together or shut off the fire easily when it’s time to head to bed or leave the house.

No Mess

There is no wood to haul, split, or light when you choose gas. There aren’t ashes to clean up, and no wood dust floating around your home. When your gas fireplace is installed, it will likely come with a care plan in which a professional should service it annually, cleaning and checking parts. This type of maintenance helps to maintain your warranty.

No Creosote

When gas burns, it doesn’t produce creosote the way that wood stoves do. This means less frequent chimney sweeps to clean the flue and system. However, gas fireplaces do release a small amount of water vapor as they burn so it’s important to have the proper flue liner for your system.

With all of the benefits of gas, there is no reason to choose another fireplace. By shopping White Glove’s House of Fire and discussing your dream fireplace with a fire expert, you can choose the best model, style, and size appliance for your family. With gas, the possibilities are endless. Choose from contemporary or traditional styles. Choose everything from the facing, to the kind of ceramic wood burns in the hearth.

When it comes to fireplace safety, it starts with hearth installation. When you choose a fireplace, stove, or insert, you need the services of a professional chimney sweep. White Glove Chimney and Air Duct installs all of our hearth products according to manufacturer specifications and local and federal fire safety codes. We know that an improper hearth installation can result in fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and more.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The chimney system is designed to vent the fire so that smoke, particulate pollution, and hazardous gases are taken outside the house. Carbon monoxide causes up to 400 accidental deaths in the US per year and more injuries and hospitalizations than that. Carbon monoxide is sometimes called “the silent killer” because it goes unnoticed until it causes significant damage. A big carbon monoxide leak can mean sudden symptoms that lead to death, and a slow leak can cause flu-like symptoms that results in organ failure over time. Carbon monoxide intrusion is a life-threatening experience can be prevented by installing carbon monoxide detectors. Hiring a professional chimney sweep and installing detectors is the best thing you can do to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Chimney and Hearth Fire

When installing a new appliance, your chimney sweep should take proper measurements, and use appropriate materials for a safe fire. It is not safe to install a stove in a corner without refractory panels or fire bricks to protect the structure from high heat. A fireplace insert should be installed with a custom flue liner. When doors, fire screens, and any other component is added to the heart, it should be secured properly. These are all things that a professional knows, but an amateur or homeowner will not know the necessary precautions to take.

Damage and Frequent Repairs

The firebox is the most under-serviced portion of the entire chimney system and endures the most abuse. The firebox ensures concentrated heat and should be constructed to withstand it. If the fireplace isn’t constructed of the proper fire bricks, it will become damaged quickly and need frequent repairs. If the high heat doesn’t cause a fire, it can cause structural materials of the home to become weakened. This type of damage can be catastrophic for a house, especially when combined with seismic activity that can affect the structure, like that in California.

It’s October, and that means cooler weather, crackling fires, and festivities. When you’re getting your fireplace ready for burn season, don’t forget your chimney too. It’s the chimney’s job to keep your fire working for you safely and efficiently through the winter. It’s the chimney sweep’s job to keep the entire system functions. Hiring an inexperienced handyman to work on your chimney is like hiring a chef to change a tire. You need specific expertise to get the job done right.

The Industry Standard

Every industry has standards for professionalism, training, and safety. Unfortunately, the chimney industry is one that is under-regulated. Recognizing this problem, industry professionals created the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) in 1983, and it quickly became the national standard for chimney safety. CSIA members undergo extensive classroom and field training and have to complete and pass a test over chimney safety as well as federal safety standards. They must adhere to a stringent code of ethics designed to protect homeowners from chimney service-related scams, and members found in violation can have their membership revoked. Finally, a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (CCS) has to recertify every three years by way of examination or continued education. When you hire a certified chimney sweep, you are getting the training he or she received through the CSIA organization, as well as on-the-job training, and continued education.

The Trusted Professionals

It isn’t just that CSIA certified chimney sweeps are the best and most educated and experienced. They are also the trusted name in the chimney industry. Realtors, insurance providers, property managers, code enforcement officers, and lawyers will look for the CSIA signature. If you need your insurance company to cover a chimney repair cost, they will want a certified chimney sweep to complete the work. City safety codes will require a certified chimney sweep to complete rebuilds and constructions. It is the trusted name because it’s the industry standard.

When You Choose White Glove

When you choose White Glove Chimney and Air Duct for all of your comprehensive chimney needs, you don’t just get a certified robot. You get a neighbor, a community member, and a professional. We care about the environment, we care about our community, and we care about our customers. Our first priority is the safety and comfort of our customers in Northern California. We work with other professionals in the area to ensure you get the best overall services possible. CSIA members work together with affiliated trades such as home inspectors, realtors, contractors, and homeowner associations.

As long as your fire is burning, substances are produced and pushed through the chimney system. Creosote, soot, particulate pollution, and toxic gases are some of these substances, although to us, it just looks like smoke. Creosote and soot coat the inside when smoke rises, building up until it becomes a problem.

The Problem With Creosote

Creosote is a black substance made up mostly of tar. It can be sticky and gooey like tar or it can become hard and glazed. When it reaches this stage it can also be more troublesome to remove. This is because as the creosote heats, it boils and the moisture evaporates from it, leaving behind a hardened material known as glazed creooste. Glazed creosote is a level three buildup, and is extremely dangerous because it is basically concentrated fuel on the inside of your flue.

Once you have a creosote buildup, it becomes less efficient, making the smoke and hot gases rise slower, cooling faster, and settling onto the sides of the flue more. This process repeats itself until flammable glazed creosote dangerously builds up, or until there is a blockage that prevents the proper ventilation of the fire. Without proper ventilation, your fireplace will vent into your home, exposing your family to particulate pollution and smoke that cause respiratory issues, and gases that can poison you and cause serious injury and death. If the creosote ignites, it will cause a fueled fire in a matter of seconds.

What You Can Do

While you cannot stop creosote completely, you can do your part as a homeowner to prevent it in excess.

1. Schedule routine maintenance including a chimney sweep and annual inspection in which your system is thoroughly cleaned and assessed for dangers like creosote buildup.
2. Burn only properly seasoned firewood so that your system will work more efficiently, your wood will burn more completely, and it will produce less creosote. If you cannot cut your own wood, you can buy from a local source.
3. Do not burn trash, clothes, or other items inside your fireplace, stove, or insert. Wood is the only thing designed to burn in your fireplace, and the only thing that will burn properly. Trash, clothes, and other items will burn incompletely, lowering efficiency, and leading to excess creosote, soot, and smoke.
4. In addition to routine professional maintenance, you can utilize CSIA accepted products such as the Creosote Sweeping Log (CSL). This product is professionally designed for homeowner use and to work in conjunction with ongoing chimney maintenance by a certified professional.

With burn season coming quickly, it is the best time to think about your fire safety this winter. It is best to schedule a sweep or inspection before your first fire of the season if you are unsure of when your last one was. We these services and more to keep our customers in Northern California safe and warm this winter. Call one of our experts or request an appointment online today.